Introduction

Space has ceased to be a scientific enterprise, but rather an aspect of a strategic space where states manifest power, practice sovereignty, and bargain power. The post-Cold War optimism, in which it was anticipated that space would be a collaborative common, has been replaced by the new competitive period, distinguished by the militarization of satellites and by the staking of the lunar resources and by competing models of governance. Commercial ecosystem and defense infrastructure combine to enable the United States to retain orbital superiority. At the same time, the Chinese state-driven system is becoming increasingly higher, not denying the casting of the moon, exploration of asteroids, and constellations of satellites of the whole world. This paper examines the geopolitical equations that will shape space operations in the 21st century and how the convergence of technologies, legal grayness, and power interests is redrawing the contours of international politics. In doing so, it fails to situate space as an external frontier; however, as a center of international rivalry.

Importance of Space

The use of satellites contributes to modern warfare with missile guidance, communications on the battlefield, and early warning systems, being some of the contributions. Space-based systems are linked with civil life, as well: they drive atmospheric traffic control, ATMs, emergency response, and more. As nations now look to the latest space gold rush, asteroid mining, and water ice or helium-3 on the moon, the economic interest in space has exploded. Space success brings prestige and diplomatic powers. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission and China’s Tiangong space station highlight how exploration doubles as geopolitically potent soft power.

Major Space Actors in the 21st Century

United States

The United States still leads in budget, infrastructure, and a vibrant private sector. In 2023, it plans to spend approximately $73 billion on its space budget or about 63% of global government expenditure, funding the NASA Artemis program among other space defense programs, especially the orbital protections within the United States Space Force. The Artemis campaign aims to send people back to the Moon by the mid-2020s, acting as a precursor to a mission to Mars, combining government science ambitions and commercial lander and delivery agreements to lower the........

© The Spine Times